She felt so at peace. The breeze against her skin, the crunch of sand beneath her boots, the glimmer of the warm sun against the folds of the endless ocean—there was nothing short of paradise here. Carried in the wind was a distinct aroma, and it reminded her of all those ice creams she would share with Roxas and Axel on the bell tower. It was the salt of the ocean swirling with the sweetness of ripe fruits growing from the leafy giants all around the island.
Xion smiled, feeling weightless. She should have returned to the castle already to report her mission, but she couldn’t. Mesmerised by the freedom she felt here in this new world, she continued unhurried down the length of the shore. With every step she took, she couldn’t help but feel she knows this place, like distant memory in a dream. It brought the same sensation whenever she was with Roxas, and with Axel. It felt…like home. At least, that’s what she would imagine home feeling like.
A soft wind swept up her hair, and Xion surprised herself when a giggle left her lips. Something tickled in her, making the giggle turn into a delighted laugh and she wrapped her arms around herself as she did a twirl in place, the heels of her boots kicking up the fine earth as she moved.
When Xion stopped, her eyes caught the shine of a seashell poking out against the sheen of wet sand. She bent to retrieve it, shaking it gently to loosen clumps from its surface. Her fingers followed the tiny, tapered ridges around the edge, and she held it out in front of her, admiring. The blue and gold hue reminded her of Roxas.
He would want to come here when he finally wakes up, Xion thought.
Safely pocketing the keepsake, she ventured closer to the curling waves. She felt her boots dig into the softened terrain beneath her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the constant ebb and flow of the water, letting it fill her mind, memorising the sound so it can keep her company when she headed back.
I hope the three of us can visit this beach someday…just me, Roxas, and Axel.
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